“How-To” Cooking – Braising

Braising means to simmer food slowly in liquid. Braising liquid can be wine, stock, beer, or even water. Herbs, seasonings, and vegetables are added to the braising liquid to create a depth of flavor to both the meat and the resulting sauce. Typical meats for braising are those that are tough cuts such as briskets, chuck roasts, and short ribs.

When braising meats, they are first seared (browned) in a pan on all sides in a little bit of fat, usually butter or oil. The meat is then removed in order to saute the mirepoix (onions, celery, carrots, etc) Once the mirepoix is nice and caramelized it’s important to deglaze the pan being sure to scrape up all of the delicious browned bits. The meat is then added back into the braising liquid, covered tightly, and left to cook for hours in the oven. The resulting meat is extremely tender and flavorful.